The Austin Police Department welcomes festival goers to this year’s Spring Fest ATX, with the primary focus on March 8 through March 17, 2019. As many know, SXSW brings thousands of visitors to Austin from around the world and our goal is to keep you, your family and our community safe while striving to be one of the safest cities in America. With this in mind, the Austin Police Department, our peer agencies and Austin’s diverse Anti-Human Trafficking groups would like your help combating Human Trafficking. Human Trafficking is a hidden crime that includes Sex Trafficking and Labor Trafficking, both of which occur every day in communities around the county and in Austin.    
 
Our goal is put a stop to human trafficking, and the first step in combating it is to identify victims so they can be rescued and help bring their perpetrators to justice. Being aware and educating yourself on the indicators of human trafficking will help us achieve this goal together.  

• Sex Trafficking is mostly conducted through social media, so please report to APD any social media posts that offer sex for money in Austin 
• Be aware that Traffickers also look to recruit new victims during large events. Stay aware of what information you share on social media
• Call 9-1-1 if you feel you are being trafficked or being recruited into trafficking or the Nation Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 if you have any information related to possible human Trafficking. 

Together we can help stop Human Trafficking for good!